Château Gazin 2014

$111.00
Out of stock
SKU
2275-2014

Other Vintages We Offer:

• Domaine: Château Gazin
• Appellation: Pomerol
• Origin: Right Bank, Bordeaux, France

Château Gazin is a must-know producer for Pomerol fans.  Not only because the quality of the wine here is top notch, but also because it is a great value option compared to some of the more exorbitantly priced producers in this Right Bank commune.  For oenophiles who understand and choose wine based on the promise of terroir, Château Gazin has some phenomenal terroir indeed.  This estate is neighbors to the stars of this region, including the iconic Château Pétrus.  With its elegant, sensual and age worthy wines, Château Gazin is a hidden gem of a producer and an essential for any Merlot lover.

Legend has it Château Gazin had a connection with the Knights of Templars, inspiring the unique design of its logo.  The property was many things before it was a vineyard including a hospital.  Château Gazin’s inception as a vineyard dates to 1772, when vines were purchased and planted by Antoine Feuilhade.  The estate changed hands many times before it was bought by the descendants of the current owners in 1917.  Eventually, the Bailliencourt family purchased it in 1946, along with another estate in the neighboring commune of Saint Émilion -- Château La Domenique.  Château Gazin eventually lost 5.5 hectares of vines to its neighbor, Château Pétrus.  To save money, the estate switched over to machine harvesting which caused the quality of the wine to further decline.  When Nicolas Bailliencourt took over managing the property in 1984, he made a series of changes including eliminating machine harvesting and hiring Thomas Duclos as a consultant in 2013.  The trajectory of this estate continues to improve, and critics are taking notice. 

The vineyards at Château Gazin are planted in one single block which is highly unusual for Pomerol.  It is one of the larger estates in the region, coming in at 26.5 hectares. The estate is planted with vines that are approximately 30 years old on average.  Here, the vineyard hosts a mixture of vines that consist of 90 percent Merlot, followed by an additional 7 percent Cabernet Sauvignon and 3 percent Cabernet Franc.  Château Gazin is said to have the same blue clay that can be found at Château Pétrus. Château Gazin has some of the highest elevations in Pomerol, with peak elevations coming in at 40.5 meters.  They use traditional practices in the vineyard and try to focus on sustainability as much as possible. Some sustainable pest control techniques implemented at Château Gazin include mating confusion.  The oldest vines at this property were planted in 1942. The vines are all harvested by hand and sorted twice for the choicest berries prior to vinification.  The wine is fermented in cement vats before being aged in New Oak barrels.  Château Gazin leases these barrels, which is an unusual occurrence for Pomerol.

The wine of Château Gazin is considered elegant, with aromas of tobacco and vanilla.  It is often better with a little bit of bottle aging – usually 8 to 12 years – and younger vintages do require just a bit of decanting. 

Tasting Notes

"The 2014 Gazin was stubborn and broody when tasted in bottle, but give it a few swirls and there comes forth gravel and black truffle scents alongside sultry black fruit. These aromatics are so engaging and involving, drawing you in towards it charms. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, crisp and taut with great precision and sappiness towards the focused, almost symmetrical, black truffle-laced finish. This continues Gazin's fine run of form, a great Pomerol from an estate predisposed these days to create sophisticated, classic wines." Neal Martin, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (03/31/2017, Interim Issue), Rating: 94

"The 2014 Gazin is laced with pretty red cherry, plum, raspberry and rose petal notes. Soft contours and silky tannins add considerable appeal. I would prefer to drink this juicy, midweight Pomerol over the next handful of years, while the fruit retains its youthful exuberance. In 2014, Gazin is all finesse." Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com (02/2017), Rating: 92

"Mid cherry red. Lightly spicy red and black fruit and just a little dusty on the nose. Chalky, chewy texture, fresh and dry on the finish. Could do with a little more flesh but it is balanced even with the slightly higher alcohol." Julia Harding MW, JancisRobinson.com, Rating: 16/20

 


More Information
Stock Status Out of Stock
Appellation Pomerol
Vintage 2014
Brand Château Gazin
Shipping Weight 3.000000

Pomerol is one of the most prestigious wine appellations in the Bordeaux region of France. Located on the Right Bank of the Dordogne River, in its earlier history, the area was primarily engaged in mixed agriculture. It was home to many apple (“pommes,” in French) orchards that gave the name to the appellation. Its origins date back to the Knights Hospitallers, symbolized by the Pomerol Cross, and it flourished even amidst challenges like the Hundred Years' War. Proximity to the river port at Libourne facilitated exports, and post-World War II investments from French and Belgian investors contributed to its global acclaim. 

What sets Pomerol apart is its unique terroir, which includes both clay and gravel, distinguishing it from the traditional clay and limestone composition of Bordeaux's right bank. Merlot dominates, constituting 80% of the plantings, and thrives in the iron-rich clay subsoil called "crasse de fer" and its core of sticky blue clay, imparting distinct character and aging potential to Pomerol wines. 

Some of Pomerol's most prominent châteaux include Pétrus, Château La Fleur-Pétrus, Le Pin, Château Trotanoy, Château La Conseillante, Château Clinet, Château L'Eglise Clinet, Château Gazin, Château L'Evangile, Clos du Clocher, and Vieux Château Certan. Pomerol lacks an official classification system; instead, the reputation and quality of châteaux are based on historical performance. Unlike neighboring Saint-Emilion, the appellation exclusively produces red wine, while its white wines remain unclassified. 

Pomerol wines are known for their elegance, full body, and lush character, with dark fruit flavors, smooth tannins, and aging potential. While some can be enjoyed in youth, top wines can age gracefully for several decades, developing complexity and character over time.

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